On National HIV Testing Day, Detroit residents urged to get tested for HIV and syphilis

LANSING -- Each year, National HIV Testing Day encourages people of all ages, races, and genders to "Take the Test, Take Control." This year, in addition to HIV testing, Detroit residents are urged to also get tested for syphilis. Public health officials are promoting both HIV and syphilis testing because of an increase in syphilis cases during the last year.

The number of Detroit residents diagnosed with primary and secondary syphilis, the most infectious stages of this sexually transmitted disease, doubled between the first quarter of 2012 and the same period this year. This increase is not happening in other parts of the state. Much of the increase is among young adults 20-29 years of age, many of whom are not familiar with signs and symptoms of syphilis. Of the 163 cases of primary and secondary syphilis diagnosed in Detroit over the past year:

-- 95 percent are African American

-- 88 percent are male

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-- 66 percent are men who have sex with men

-- 51 percent are HIV positive

-- 63 percent are 20-29 years old

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) and the Institute for Population Health (IPH) are collaborating with several community-based organizations to reverse this trend, including ACCESS, the Horizons Project at Wayne State University School of Medicine, the Michigan AIDS Coalition, the AIDS Partnership Michigan, and StatusSexy.com.

On June 27 and throughout the summer, these organizations will be promoting HIV and syphilis testing at outreach events throughout the city. Residents are encouraged to contact these agencies for testing locations or talk with their physician about getting tested. In addition, the IPH STD Clinic provides testing services Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Herman Kiefer Complex, Room 114A, 1151 Taylor Street, Detroit, MI 48202. No appointment is necessary. For more information, call (313) 324-9612.

Syphilis can be cured with proper antibiotic treatment. For those living with HIV, getting medical care and taking medicines regularly allows individuals to live a longer, healthier life and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others. In order to stop these diseases from spreading, it is critical that Michiganders know their status, get treatment, and talk with partners so they can be tested and treated too. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/survivehiv or www.ipophealth.org and click on 'Alerts'.